Sankranti, Sankraman
Sankranti is celebrated on sankraman day i.e. when Sun transits from one zodiac to the next. According to surya siddhanta, Vedic hindu calender consists 12 months. There are 12 sankrati days in a year and each Sankranti day marks the beginning of the new month in Hindu Solar Calendar.
All twelve Sankranti(s) in the year are considered highly auspicious for performing ancesteral rituals (Shraddha and Tarpanam) and daana-punya activities. Only perticular time duration before or after each Sankranti moment is considered auspicious for Sankranti related activities.
Simha Sankranti, Simha Sankraman
Simha Sankranti is observed when the sun moves from karkataka Rashi (Cancer) to the Simha Rashi (Leo). This day is the solar calender’s new month and is known as chingam month in Malayalam, Avani in Tamil, Bhadra in Bangali.
Simha Sankranti is also called as Simha Sankraman in southern parts of India. For Simha Sankranti sixteen Ghatis ( 1 day = 60 Ghatis) before the Sankranti moment are considered auspicious and the time window that exists between that moment to Sankranti moment is auspicious for all Dan-Punya activities.
Simha Sankranti Celebrations
On Simha Sankranti day, People Perform Sankraman Snan, Japa, charity, pitru tarpan and shradha rituals on this day. during this day they worship the Sun God, Lord Vishnu and Lord Narsimha Swami.
Simha Sankranti is celebrated with utmost fervor in South Indian communities is evident from the fact that numerous temples across the states of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. At Lord Vishnu temple, located at Kulai, perform special rituals like Narikela Abhishekha and Appada puja.
Olgia, Ghee Sankranti, Ghrit Sankranti
Olgia is celebrated on simha Sankranti day in the Kumaun region. During the Chand dynasty, craftsman and other workers received reward on this day by displaying their products, and the other people too carried flowers, fruits, vegetables. Curd, milk, sweets and several kinds of best things to the royal court. This tradition of offering fruits and other offerings to the members of royal family was known as Rite of Olag. This custom almost similar as the presentation of gifts to the Britishers on Christmas day.
Now a days, farmers and artisans give presents to the owners, landlords and customers and receive gifts and money in return. Binai (oral harp), datkhocha (metallic tooth pick), metal calipers, axes, ghee, vegetables and firewood are some of the presents exchanged on this day.
Everyone celebrates with putting ghee on their foreheads and eat ghee and chapatis stuffed with ‘urad’ dal. It is believed that walnuts sweeten after this festival. This festival is called as ‘Ghrit’ or ‘Ghee’ (clarified butter) Sankranti.